.66 Mint Oxblood German Handmade Greiner marble. Highly rare, very old antique. For Sale

This exceptional piece is a highly sought-after antique German hand-gathered Greiner marble, which represents the very dawn of glass marble manufacturing.Historical Significance & Craftsmanship

• The Pioneer Period: Often referred to interchangeably as a Greiner or Grenier marble, these single-pontil, hand-gathered glass spheres were crafted in Lauscha, Germany from roughly 1840 to 1860. Elias Greiner invented the specialized marble scissors around 1846 to pinch molten glass rods into shape.
• The Signature Pontil: Because they were hand-gathered from a furnace on a single iron rod, they boast a distinct faceted or ground single pontil mark on one end rather than two.
• Texture and Matrix: The heavily whipped, bubble-filled clear glass matrix is absolutely text-book for this early era, creating a beautiful \"icy\" or transparent background.

Rare Internal Features

• Oxblood Swirl: The deep, dark red streak resting inside the matrix is genuine oxblood glass. Oxblood is famously difficult to formulate and highly collected across various antique marble styles.
• The Long \"Tail\": The ribbon structure tapers off into a delicate, elongated \"tail\" drifting from the main gathering point.
• Ghost Core: The faint, suspended central structure is a signature ghost core element, common when early artisans pulled and twisted the glass rods.

Value & DesirabilityAt a classic transitional size of .66 inches (roughly 21/32\") and preserved in mint condition, a marble of this pedigree is a centerpiece artifact.
The product is a highly rare and very old antique .66 mint oxblood German handmade Greiner marble. This unique marble was created in the mid-1800s in Germany. With a vintage appeal and a style that reflects German craftsmanship, this marble is a valuable collector\'s item for those interested in handmade marbles from the 19th century. Perfect for enthusiasts aged 17 years and up, this antique piece is a true gem for anyone looking to add a piece of history to their collection. In the last picture you can see a hook of oxblood and to the right is a smaller strand of oxblood.